The dictionary defines nuance as the ability to express delicate shadings (as of meaning, feeling, or value).

Own your subtle differences in meaning, feeling, and value. When you encounter career advice don’t trust it, test it. Does the advice fit for you? Is it helpful? How might you tweak or alter the suggestion or advice to make it your own.

You build a career not by assembling it like the 68 steps to assemble a piece of Ikea furniture — you assemble it by making up your own direction. You are not a beach – you are a grain of sand.

Monika Hilm, the regional director of Vienna House, and I were walking through Istanbul to see some of the popular tourist spots. We were at the bottom of the Galata Tower and wanted to make our way up to Taksim Square. It was a bit confusing as there was a sign pointing one way but my memory led me to believe it was in the opposite direction. As we were standing there frozen in our directional dilemma, an elderly gentleman approached asking if we wanted to buy a selfie stick. “No thank you,” I said.

He then asked, “do you need some help?” I told him about our lack of direction and he gave us detailed and correct directions to Taksim Square. I felt grateful and voiced much thanks but he replied, “no need to thank me, I want that you must be happy.” Immediately upon hearing those words both Monika and I were moved. Moved to where we wanted to go but even more moved that he genuinely cared so much for our happiness.

I believe we can all learn about putting other people’s happiness first from the selfie-stick salesman. This week, focus on putting others happiness first without expecting a thank you. Be willing to say – or at least think to yourself – as you help others, “I want that you must be happy!”

In the game called your career, what puts you on tilt and how do you flip out of being tilted?

To play pinball well we must know just how much we can shake the machine to alter the ball’s path in our favour without tilting the machine and ending the game, and we also want to keep flipping the ball back into the game area where we can score points. If you imagine your career as a game of pinball, what puts you on tilt and how do you flip out of it?

Tilt. Do you know who or what puts you on tilt, shutting you down, and leaving you feeling “out of the game.” Do you have common triggers and habitual ways of responding to being tilted? Once tilted, how long, in minutes, hours, or days, does your emotional and mental tilt leave you shut down.

Flip. After you have been tilted how do you flip your career ending tilt around? Do you have a specific routine, person, or mental perspective that renews or rejuvenates your career quest?

Don’t let your cluttered mind drive you off in all directions. Before you leap out of your chair and embark on the next action in your life – – pause – – be intentional. Ask yourself: Where am I going? Why am I going there?

Once you have a satisfactory answer to those two questions proceed because if the shoe fits, wear it. Otherwise, take a few more moments and infuse more intention into your everyday actions.

I recently attended a Carlos Santana concert in Winnipeg. I enjoyed the show but there would have been no show without the audience. You also would not have a career without others. You required parents to be brought into being and so many relationships will provide threads as you weave your career tapestry. Don’t think solo in career, think about your impact on others, their impact on you, and the contributions you make to others from co-workers and customers to family and friends. Turn the lights on in your career and see “your audience.” Ask yourself: how well am I performing in my work to enrich, enliven, educate, enthuse, and entertain my audience?